Badminton ace Kirsty Gilmour pulls out of Team GB to focus on Commonwealth Games

Team GB were prioritising the World Championships over Glasgow 2014

Badminton ace Kirsty Gilmour has pulled out of Team GB to focus on the Commonwealth Games

Scotland’s number one women’s singles player Kirsty Gilmour has “reluctantly” withdrawn from the GB badminton programme to concentrate her efforts on Glasgow 2014.

The decision centres on the GB programme prioritising the World Championships over the Commonwealth Games but Kirsty (20), from Bothwell, has made it clear that the Olympic Games in Rio remains a major target.

Gilmour, who at number 23 in the world is the highest ranked women’s singles player from the Commonwealth nations, said: “I have decided to temporarily withdraw from the GB World Class Programme in order to commit fully to preparing for Glasgow 2014 but I have aspirations to make Team GB in the Rio Olympics.

“I believe that I have made excellent progress over the past 12 months, thanks to the environment I have here in Scotland. I am working with the best possible coach and I have a fantastic support team through the Sportscotland Institute of Sport staff.”

Gilmour added: “Every athlete dreams of competing at the Games on home soil. I didn’t compete at London 2012 but I have a real opportunity to do well in Glasgow.

“It is unfortunate that the milestone target for British Badminton is the World Championships, which are held three weeks after the Commonwealth Games.”